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Blair County Planning Commission members Thursday reviewed plans for construction of two new poultry barns in Woodbury Township.
Marlin Burkholder plans to construct two 26,000-square-foot poultry barns, two manure storage facilities, associated gravel drives and stormwater management controls on an existing 155.75-acre parcel along Piney Creek Road.
This proposal will disturb 9.95 acres of existing agricultural land that is currently vacant. In an environmental review of natural features at this location, prime agricultural soils were discovered on portions of the site. Additionally, the entire site is loathed within the Canoe Creek Watershed Important Mammal Area, according to MacKenzie Caron, regional planner.
Access to the site will consist of a proposed access driveway off Piney Creek Road. This development has the potential to draw additional agricultural traffic to the area. The developer should consult PennDOT to ensure proper highway occupancy permit approvals have been obtained before creating a new access point to the state road.
Vegetated swales will be constructed to help direct excess stormwater from the impervious surface cover toward underground infiltration basins with discharge to a level spreader. The developer should ensure that all runoff meets Woodbury Township's Stormwater Ordinance.
Because the location is home to a core population of all six species of hibernating colonial bats, including the federally protected and endangered Indiana bat, it is imperative for the developer to consult with the State Game Commission to ensure any development will not have an adverse impact on this species, Caron said.
Overall, the proposal does not appear to have any long-term negative impact on the community landscape and is therefore consistent with the Alleghenies Ahead comprehensive plan, Caron said.